2015-2016 ALA CD#35.1_21916 ADVOCACY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN May 15, 2015 ALA and its members work with libraries, the broader library community and members of the public to advocate for the value of libraries and for public support for libraries of all types at the local, state, federal and international level. This work includes a broad continuum of activities, including raising public awareness of the value of libraries, training and supporting library advocates, advancing legislation and policies that support information and library services in all types of libraries, and effectively responding to specific opportunities and threats. Advocacy efforts support ALA's core values, provide a vision of innovation, focus on the impact of libraries and librarians, enable the future of libraries and promote libraries as centers of community engagement, lifelong discover:y, and learning. GOALS There is deep public understanding of the value and impact of libraries of all types on the communities they serve, the broad range of services offered by libraries, and the indispensable role of the librarian and library staff in providing these services. Decision-makers and stakeholders see a nationwide network of library advocates, advocating for libraries of all types. The library is a hub of community engagement and continual learning: a place to form the critical thinking skills fundamental to learning in a technologically evolving world, to access information, and to create and share new knowledge. Libraries are funded with staff and resources to meet the needs of their communities. Across a diverse library community, there is a shared focus and common understanding of advocacy and a sustained commitment to work collaboratively to reach common advocacy goals. Advocacy is integrated into the daily work of librarians and library staff. Advocacy is part of educational preparation for librarians and library staff. All libraries and all states have an advocacy plan. ALA plays a key role in formulating legislation, policies, and standards that affect libraries and is recognized in the U.S. as the voice for libraries and librarianship. ALA works with a wide range of partners and stakeholders to achieve library advocacy goals. ALA equips the library community with resources and training, available in a wide variety of formats and venues. 1
STRATEGIES 1. Develop a sustained national advocacy campaign to increase public awareness of the value, impact and services provided by librarians and libraries of all types. 2. Provide coordinated resources and training to keep library advocates informed and engaged. 3. Recruit, mobilize and inspire a growing network of library advocates at the local, state, national and international levels. 4. Gather, develop, and disseminate research documenting the value, outcomes and impacts of libraries of all types. 5. Explore funding, organizational and governance structures and their impact on libraries of all types in order to ensure the sustainability and future of libraries. 6. Identify advocacy best practices, using research and evidence to increase support and funding for libraries of all types. 7. Identify and work with partners and stakeholders to achieve advocacy goals for all types of libraries. OBJECTIVES AND TACTICS FOR EACH STRATEGY The strategies for success are the approaches that will be taken to achieve the goals. Outcome measurement will be assessed at the strategy level. Under each strategy, objectives and tactics have been identified. The objectives are the measurable steps that will be taken to achieve the strategies. The tactics are the tools that will be used in pursuing an objective. Strategy 1: Develop a sustained national advocacy campaign to increase public awareness of the value, impact, and services provided by librarians and libraries of all types. Outcome Measure: Increased awareness of the value of libraries and librarians of all types on the part of the public and decision-makers measured through national surveys and as demonstrated by behavioral changes. Increased financial support for libraries. OLA, PIO, Build the campaign infrastructure Establish steering group comprising key Divisions and develop messaging stakeholders Review existing initiatives, tools and resources in coordination with ALA divisions, committees, round tables, and other groups with a focus on advocacy, including PLA, ACRL, AASL, ALSC, YALSA, United for Libraries and the Center for the Future of Libraries Ensure coordination with past, current, and future presidential initiatives. Seek external media and/or corporate partners/sponsors 2
PIO Develop a public awareness Identify key audiences, goals, outcomes campaign and messages Identify and prioritize methods for reaching the public and decision-makers, including PSAs, local campaigns, social media, editorials, etc. Create a strong campaign brand/image/logo and use on all materials PIO Communicate campaign messages Develop in-person and online training and strategies to members Conduct training session OLA, Get support and buy in from Launch campaign and measure outcomes CRO, chapters and affiliates to increase AASL reach and campaign impact PIO Implement campaign and assess Launch campaign and continually measure effectiveness outcomes and make adjustments, as needed PIO Relate campaign messaging to Leverage existing resources and align Community Engagement initiative ALA's current public awareness assets and and other existing assets initiatives, such as Libraries Transforming Communities, National Library Week, Library Card Sign-up Month, the Declaration for the Right to Libraries, and National Library Legislative Day into the campaign Strategy 2: Provide coordinated resources and training to keep library advocates informed and engaged. Outcome Measure: Increased usage of advocacy resources and an increased number of col laborative projects and initiatives. All Work to create a common Communicate advocacy continuum understanding of advocacy framework and library ecosystem, and how libraries of all types, individual activities, member groups, and units are interrelated and need to advocate on each other's behalf OLA, in Ensure that ALA units work Examine internal structures to identify coordination together strategically to achieve improved pathways for communication with OGR, advocacy goals and collaboration OITP all ALA Create and implement mechanisms to 3
units ensure all appropriate ALA units are informed and engaged OLA, in Create and promote a Create a portfolio of advocacy programs coordination clearinghouse of advocacy and resources. with al l ALA materials Market clearinghouse, highlight benefits of units use Identify a means for regularly updating and improving the resou rce based on evaluations and feedback OLA, in Ensure that existing resources Inventory materials and reposition coordination are up-to-date, relevant, and advocacy web pages for increased with all ALA easy for members to utilize accessibility units PLA will make the revised Turning the Page virtual curriculum available and will market access. There is potential for use by academic and school libraries. OLA, in Ensure that new resources are Strengthen communication channels for coordination created based on best practices information sharing about initiatives and with all ALA units resources and to create long-term strategies PLA Project Outcome will create portfolio of advocacy reso urces related to use of outcome measures ACRL's Value of Academic Libraries initiative supports a blog with regular updates about notable research, projects and tools. OLA, in Increase impact through close Incorporate up-to-date information policy coordination coordination of advocacy work information in advocacy resources with OGR, with information policy and Coordinate the development of advocacy OITP all ALA professional and leadership training materials with units providing development work professional development courses Strategy 3: Recruit, mobilize, and inspire a growing network of library advocates at the local, state, national, and international levels. Outcome Measure: The number of librarians and members of the public involved in library advocacy will increase as tracked via social media, Engage advocacy software and other assessment tools 4
OLA, OGR Recruit librarians, library staff and Highlight benefits of library advocacy CRO others to become library Provide resources that make library!ro advocates advocacy easy UFL Encourage library advocates to "pledge" to devote an average of one hour per week to advocacy efforts OLA, OIF, in Provide assistance for libraries Coordinate outreach among ALA units to coordination dealing with local and statewide the state an d local level with others threats Offer individualized assistance responding to local circumstances, including resources, consulting, training and media relations All, in Provide advocacy training Clarify roles for library staff and public coordination Offer training face-to-face and on line with OLA Engage state associations and other leaders to establish shared goals and partner in driving participation Eval uate training to ensure effectiveness and facilitate continuous improvement OLA, OGR Create and leverage a network of Seek, secure, and work with public figures PIO national spokespeople including authors, techies and other celebrities to serve as library advocates Provide spokespeople with key messages Create opportunities for spokespeople to engage with the public about libraries OLA, Support advocates Build technical assistance program for all OGR, participants in training; offer telephone, PIO email and online counsel to help them be effective in their application of advocacy Provide incentives and recognition to motivate advocates OLA,CRO Work with partners to help Identify partners and advocate recruit advocates recruitment/outreach opportunities Leverage state library association conferences to recruit advocates Strategy 4: Gather, develop, and disseminate research documenting the value, outcomes, and impacts of libraries of all types. 5
Outcome Measure: More research will focus on advocacy issues and there will be increased use of research in advocacy efforts. ORS Build research infrastructure Establish staff steering group Develop procedures for gathering research Establish research agenda Disseminate agenda and encourage researchers to focus their work on key areas in the agenda Put process in place for updating the research agenda every 3-5 years Using the Legacy partnership, PLA will work to organize and coordinate existing research to educate members on value of data and how to use various products. This will include convenings of researchers. ORS Gather statistical and anecdotal Quantitative and qualitative approaches research (case studies, stories) ACRL's upcoming multi-institutional investigation to replicate a small number of research questions about library impact on student learning and success using the same research approach at a variety of academic institutions Provide libraries of all types with the tools to assess local impact ORS Update "Libraries Matter" database Evaluate database and makes necessary with research on impact of libraries improvements Promote awareness and use of database All ALA Build on existing work by divisions Incorporate findings of ACRL's Value of Units and other groups. Academic Libraries and PLA's Public Library Impact Measures. Continue work on Causality: School Libraries and Student Success (CLASS) Incorporate findings of Aspen Institute Report, "Rising to the Challenge" OLA, Incorporate use of research on the Review advocacy materials and include OGR, value, outcomes and impacts of research where necessary Divisions libraries in advocacy materials and Incorporate the use of research in all efforts advocacy trainings Assist advocates in the use of research in their advocacy efforts PLA Project Outcome will provide PL's with outcome-based data along with advocacy 6
tools to effectively use results; integrate outcome measurement into on-going library operations ORS Leverage partner networks to help Get buy-in from partners and co-identify PIO disseminate research promotion opportunities Create turn-key messages for partners to use when disseminating research Strategy 5: Explore funding, organizational, and governance structures and their impact on libraries of all types in order to ensure the sustainability and future of libraries. Outcome Measure: Library advocates have increased data and information on the impact of funding and governance structures on library capacity. ORS, Conduct an analysis of various library Develop and implement research plan PLA, governance and organizational PLA and OLA collaborate with COSLA and OLA structures and their impact on Aspen Institute on recommendations of library support and funding Aspen "Challenges" Report, with a focus on governance structures ORS Based on analysis, determine and Disseminate information about models and develop strategies and models how to use them ORS, Provide resources and training to Publicize available resources and training CRO, support libraries as they seek to opportunities OLA implement new organizational and PLA collaborates with OITP on e-rate governance structures or adjust advocacy efforts based on changes in legislative trends awareness and other federal policy initiatives, serves as resource for practitioners' perspective, joins in statements of support and disseminates information via committee liaison, joint webinars, communications channels Strategy 6: Identify advocacy best practices, using research and evidence to increase support and funding for libraries of all types. Outcome Measure: ALA's new advocacy initiatives will be structured with an evidence-based advocacy strategy. Unit Objectives {Measurable Steps) Tactics {Tools Used) ORS Assess current types and levels of Conduct an advocacy benchmark survey and advocacy efforts in libraries disseminate results ORS Identify successful advocacy Research and data collection 7
strategies ORS, Create or update existing resources Create or update training materials, OLA, for library advocates to begin communications tools for library advocates OGR, implementing evidence-based and advocacy into their approaches others Strategy 7: Identify and work with partners and stakeholders to achieve advocacy goals for all types of libraries. Outcome Measure: ALA will work with a broader range and larger number of partners and coalitions in successful advocacy efforts. OLA, Identify current and potential Review list of organizations currently working PIO, partners with ALA OGR, Identify additional partners and ways to Divisions strengthen mutual benefits All On an issue-specific basis, work For each advocacy issue, identify common with partners to develop and goals between partner organizations and/or implement campaigns to achieve advocacy goals Collective Impact goals Collaboratively design advocacy campaigns Implement advocacy campaigns in coordination with partners All Evaluate effectiveness of advocacy Measure buy-in from advocacy partners partnerships Measure success rate AASL Continue and grow outreach with Create an External Relations Task Force for school partners school libraries Identify three professional organizations where AASL can have impact All Find ways to engage partners in Connect with partners to identify existing advocacy opportunities opportunities Evaluate existing advocacy opportunities to identify ways to be inclusive of partners Acknowledge and celebrate partner involvement OLA, Optimize existing partner Build stronger ties with state library CRO, opportunities, such as those with associations divisions state library associations Work with state associations to develop common advocacy messages that can be used across all state associations and at the ALA level 8
The Advocacy Continuum Overview Laying the Groundwork Advocating for Specific Goals Community Engagement Public Awareness Center for the Future of Libraries Research and Data on the Value of Libraries Impact Measures Training Resources Peer to Peer Support Networks Federal Legislation State Funding Local Initiatives Internatio nal Issues Online Action Networks Fight ing Budget, Censorship and Legislative Challenges Individual Consulting AL.\AmericanUbraryAssocialion August 28, 2014 9